Meeting of the Commission for the Study of Topical Problems of Medicine in Georgia
- April 18, 2021
On 16 April, 2021, the Presidium of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences hosted a regular meeting of the “Commission for the Study of Topical Problems of Medicine in Georgia” dedicated to current issues in the treatment of lung cancer.
The meeting was attended by the President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, academician Giorgi Kvesitadze, members of the Presidium, academicians, members of the Commission, representatives of professional associations, specialists in this field.
The first speaker, Amiran Matitashvili, clinical oncologist at the Mardaleishvili Medical Center, reported about the importance of lung cancer screening. He noted that lung cancer ranks first among oncological diseases in terms of frequency and mortality. Unfortunately, most patients come to the clinic late, in advanced cases of the disease when it is already incurable. However, with early diagnosis and timely treatment, a significant increase in the effectiveness of treatment is possible. The screening is considered to be the best way to diagnose the early stages of the disease. The speaker cited the results of international, multicenter, clinical studies that have shown that lung cancer screening reduces mortality by 39% over 10 years. He also highlighted the potential side effects of screening.
The second speaker, Ivane Kiladze, head of the Oncology Department at the Caucasus Medical Center, touched upon the problems of treatment and diagnosis of lung cancer in Georgia. It was noted that significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in Georgia in recent years. In particular, this applies to radiological diagnostic methods, surgical and drug therapy. He stressed the need for multidisciplinary treatment in the management of this highly complex disease. At the end of the report, the author analyzed the financial aspects of lung cancer treatment. In particular, it was noted that the treatment of distant (locally spread and metastatic) cases of the disease is extremely expensive and imposes a huge financial burden on the health care system. And the benefits of this treatment are minimal.
After the presentation, an active discussion was held. The session was summed up by Ramaz Khetsuriani, a member of the Presidium of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences. It was stated that following the meeting, the Commission will prepare appropriate recommendations for submission to the government agencies.
